Police in West Virginia have released dramatic video surveillance which shows a pharmacist defending himself and a store full of workers and customers against a masked armed robber.
Terry Gillenwater, 25, entered Good Family Pharmacy in Pinch, W. Va. Wednesday morning wearing a bandana and carrying a gun.
Don Radcliff, one of the pharmacists on staff, had just joked about how Gillenwater must have been there to rob the store when the suspect attempted to do just that.
Surveillance video released by the Kanahwa County sheriff’s department shows Gillenwater reaching into his jacket and pulling out a gun. Radcliff did not hesitate to do the same.
Video surveillance from Good Family Pharmacy (Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department)
As Gillenwater raised his weapon to fire, Radcliff beat him to the punch and fired his own, hitting the suspect square in the chest. When Gillenwater attempted again to shoot, Radcliff shot once more, hitting the suspect’s gun. As Gillenwater is seen running off camera, Radcliff fires another shot.
Radcliff rendered Gillenwater aid, but the man died on the way to the hospital, according to WOWK.
Video surveillance from Good Family Pharmacy (Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department)
Pharmacy owner Patrick Good said that Wednesday’s encounter was exactly why he encourages staff to carry at all times.
“You can’t just be passive when people come in trying to rob you. I mean, you work all of your life for stuff like this, and you can’t just let someone take it away from you,” Good told WSAZ. (RELATED: West Virginia Pharmacist Issues Bitter Pill To Would-Be Armed Robber)
“You’re always prepared. We carry all the time,” Good continued. “You always have that in the back of your mind. You just hope and pray that you never have to act on it.”
Don Radcliff (via WCHS)
Radcliff was shaken by the incident, but was back on the job Thursday.
He said he took no joy from what happened, but was encouraged by the Bible.
“Thursday, February 19th, John 10, 7 to 18,” Radcliff read from a daily devotional in an interview with WCHS. “‘A thief comes only to steal and to kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.’ That’s verse 10,” Radcliff said. “Abundance isn’t God’s provision for me to live in luxury; it’s his provision for me to help others live.”
“So many times when I read this daily devotional it’s exactly what I need to hear. And today it was what I needed to hear,” Radcliff said.
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